The Commission
A Local Church Visions
Jesus was very clear in His directive concerning His desire and commission for us to go into all the world to make disciples. In some cases the local church has been deprived of the great blessing that comes through obedience as we respond to His commission.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Mat 28:19 - 20
Who, When and
Where
There are three ways the local church embraces the Great
Commission.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
In the
preceding passage Jesus is talking to His disciplines. The verse
gives us insight to consider as we embrace the Great Commission.
First, who is equipped to go? “You have received power” a close
study of the word power reveals that Jesus is talking about
miraculous power. A power that is beyond the natural. Second, when
do we receive this power? “When the Holy Spirit comes on you.”
Third, where are we to go? “Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the
uttermost parts of the earth.” This passage talks of the places we
are to be witnesses. Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of
the earth, speaking of areas or places we are to go. They may be
best recognized as places in relationship to a starting place.
Jerusalem represents local ministry, Judea and Samaria represent
extra-local ministry and the ends of the earth represents foreign
lands.
There is no question that Jesus says we are to go. There is further
evidence of His sending us in John 17:18. This passage says . . As
you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
The
great commission is not an option, it’s a mandate
In
this day of the Church God has released a Grace to enable local
congregations to be involved in missions ministry in a new and
exciting way--Short-Term Missions. Most churches have participated
in missions through sending money to career missionaries, as we
should. Today, God is releasing ordinary people to do extraordinary
things through Short-Term Missions.
This new level of participation has had a profound effect on the
Church, at home and in the field where we serve. Each person
participating as a part of a Short-Term Mission team experiences
spiritual growth and develops in the ministry God has called him to.
Short-Term Missions change the lives of those who go as an
individual effort, but when your church sends its own team, the
whole church is changed.
Short-Term Missions is a God Event
Our desire at Harvest Preparation is to serve local congregations in
the call to missions God is stirring in hearts, and to invest in the
vision God has given you. We believe each local church should
strengthen and develop a vision for missions by setting into place a
strategy to establish and function in her own Short-Term Missions
ministry. Our success is when the roots of the Missions Heart, the
heart of Jesus for the peoples of the nations, is planted and woven
deeply into the fabric of the people of your congregation.